"I'm sorry you see it that way, King Naka. You have such a beautiful planet. It's a pity is has to go to waste." Cherris said as she rose. She picked up the document of unconditional surrender and allegiance to Freeza. Her dark brown hair bounced against her back as she walked out of the room. Outside the door, acting as guards, were Vegeta and Nappa. She nodded for them to follow, her coal colored eyes staring straight ahead. The three were receiving angry glares from the staff of the palace.

"Didn't take the offer?" Nappa asked, though he didn't really need to ask. Very few races ever accepted the offer. She shook her head. "Guess me and Vegeta'll be back here in a few days." Vegeta nodded in agreement and looked ahead at Cherris. She held no signs of the previous night's events. She acted as she always did. She walked with pride, never letting emotion be portrayed on her face or anywhere. She was wearing that mask again, liked she always did.

"Will you be joining us, Cherris?" he asked as they exited the palace and walked down the steps.

"If my orders tell me to. If not, no." Cherris said as she stepped into her pod. Her voice held the sound of indifference, as if she didn't care anymore, as if they were just employees working under Freeza.

They had always been. At least ever since his father was killed along with the rest of his race. He was only eight then. She had taken care of him. He wasn't use to being totally alone then. She watched over him and took up for him when the older soldiers messed with him.

"What? Is the little baby going to cry? Can't take it like a man?" a big broad alien soldier said in the mess hall. Him and three others were crowded around Vegeta. He wasn't saying anything, just staring at the ground.

"Is there a problem gentlemen?" a much younger Cherris asked. They had separated into a clumsy line at the sight of Cherris. Though she was young, a female, and not a fighter she still held a high position in Freeza's 'cabinet'. She looked around the group and saw Vegeta.

"No, ma'am. We were just joking around with the kid." The biggest of the three said. She arched and eyebrow.

"Very well. Vegeta, follow me. You'll be dining at my table today. You're not going to eat with these, foot soldiers." She said. He looked at her. She walked very stiffly. Vegeta had only seen her a handful of times. It was a choice between her and them; he was young, but not stupid. He followed behind her staying about a three feet behind her.

"Hey, Cherris, you've got a shadow." Dodoria said as she came upon the table. She turned behind her and saw that he was talking about Vegeta. She smiled, but it wasn't the friendliest smile.

"No. I invited young Vegeta to join us. He's far too good to be sitting with those fools." Cherris told the table motioning towards the lower soldiers. "He's going to be a valuable asset one day. After a bit of training and field missions he'll be up in ranks." They all looked at her skeptically, but made no other mention of Vegeta as he sat down and began to eat. He listened to the others talk intently, absorbing what they were saying.

That had only been the start of it. Cherris began to oversee his training sessions.

"Very impressive, Vegeta." She commented one day. "I think you're ready for a field assignment. Don't worry. I'll be overseeing it. I've arranged it all with Lord Freeza. He agrees with me. Though he said Nappa and Raditz should accompany you as well." She continued walking and Vegeta followed her, listening intently.

"The planet has a very weak populous, weak but extremely high numbered. Lord Freeza wants the planet for its natural resources. That's why you will not damage the planet. That means no off the wall explosions-Raditz-no long killings-Nappa-I want a quick and clean job of this. Do you three understand?" Cherris asked from an office like room. "I'll be tagging a long to make sure you don't go overboard. With or without the natives the planet is valuable."

The group walked out of the office and into the hallway of the spaceship. Cherris led them to the departure area and Nappa and Raditz climbed into their pods. "Who do you feel Vegeta?" she asked standing in front of her pod.

"I can do this." Vegeta said with an air that said he was more than sure of himself. He opened his and climbed in. Cherris watched him get in before stepping in her pod. With a few presses of buttons they were all off.

The journey had taken a total of five days to reach said planet.

Vegeta followed behind Cherris and Nappa. He hadn't spoken with her since the other night. She needed space, he told himself often. Now she was different. She wasn't the Cherris he knew anymore.

"Vegeta, what's going on with Cherris?" Nappa asked. Vegeta looked at him.

"I don't know Nappa. Hell, maybe Freeza had a few choice words with her." Vegeta told him.

"I always thought that no matter what happened she treat you differently." Nappa commented. Vegeta didn't say anything in return. He knew for a fact that no matter what they couldn't have whatever it was they had before that night.

"Very well, Ms. Cherris. I suppose you know what must become of this planet." Freeza said. She nodded. "I'm thinking you're three Sayians should take this planet. You do think Vegeta, Raditz, and Nappa are capable of this don't you?"

"Yes, of course I do, Lord Freeza." Cherris told him automatically.

"Good. Brief them on their assignment and then I think Mr. Zarbon wants a word with you." Freeza said from behind his desk. She bowed and exited the room. She walked stiffly to the sleeping quarters. After reaching that hall she went passed five doors before standing in front of a door where quite a lot of noise was coming from.

Her hands were gloveless and she pressed the buttons with long fingers. She door slid open and the noise stopped. "You three. Gear up." She told the three Sayians shortly. "And meet me in my office." No one had a time to say a word before she was walking away. Raditz and Nappa had no idea why she was suddenly so distant. She had always been different from the others on the ship at least with them, and most of all with Vegeta. They didn't want to piss her off. They did as they were told and left Vegeta alone.

It took him a while to completely suit up. He left his room and walked into the hall to see Zarbon. Immediately his eyes narrowed and his fist clenched. He could kill that bastard.

"What are you doing?" Vegeta asked as he walked up to the narcissist warrior. Zarbon arched an eyebrow and looked down at Zarbon.

"If you must know, I'm waiting for Cherris. I have to have a few words with her." Zarbon told the young Sayian.

Vegeta knew what he really meant. He was going to hurt Cherris again. Vegeta had an assignment. He couldn't stay and protect Cherris. Zarbon would be free to do whatever he wanted. He stared at the other warrior and then stomped off Cherris's office.

"Vegeta. Thanks for joining us. As I was telling Nappa and Raditz you three are to eliminate the planet we visited a few days ago." Cherris told him. He nodded. Vegeta couldn't help, but be afraid for what was going to happen when he left the planet.

"You have you're orders. You are dismissed. And boys. I want this job done right. Lord Freeza wants this planet preserved. All you're mistakes come back to me and it makes me look bad." Cherris said sternly. Raditz and Nappa nodded and left for the flight docks.

"Cherris. Are you going to be okay?" Vegeta asked.

"Why wouldn't I Vegeta?" she questioned him from her desk.

"Just…be careful." He muttered.